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Safety Disclaimer

GarageToolHQ reviews garage, auto DIY and car-care equipment. The information on this site is general and educational. It is not safety training, it is not a repair manual, and it does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions for any product or vehicle. You are responsible for how you use any equipment.

Lifting a vehicle

  • A jack is for lifting, not holding. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Set it on rated jack stands, used in pairs, on solid, level concrete, at the lift points in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
  • Chock the wheels that stay on the ground, and give the vehicle a firm push before you go under it.
  • Check the rated capacity of jacks, stands, ramps and lifts against the actual weight being lifted, not just the vehicle’s curb weight.
  • Look for jacks and stands that state compliance with ASME PASE, the US safety standard for portable automotive service equipment.

Car lifts

  • Check the lift’s capacity, minimum ceiling height and floor requirements (concrete thickness and strength, and whether anchors are allowed) before you buy. Do not anchor a lift into a slab that does not meet the manufacturer’s specification.
  • Install the lift exactly as the manufacturer specifies, or have it installed by a qualified installer.
  • Lower the lift onto its mechanical locks before you work under the vehicle.
  • ALI certification means a lift model has been third-party certified to the ANSI/ALI ALCTV standard. See the Automotive Lift Institute.

Air compressors and air tools

  • Wear eye protection with every air tool, and hearing protection around loud compressors and impacts.
  • Never exceed a tool’s or hose’s rated pressure. Drain the compressor tank after use so it does not rust from the inside, and never modify a tank or its relief valve.
  • Use impact-rated sockets on impact wrenches, and finish lug nuts with a torque wrench to the vehicle’s specification.

Heat, fuel and carbon monoxide

  • Never run a vehicle engine, generator, or unvented fuel-burning heater in a closed garage. Carbon monoxide has no color or smell and can kill. Fit a CO alarm. See the CPSC carbon monoxide information center.
  • Use vented gas heaters installed to the manual and local code, keep clearances to vehicles, fuel and storage, and keep flammable liquids away from any heater.
  • Put 240V heaters, compressors and lifts on the dedicated circuit the manual calls for. If you are not sure, use a licensed electrician.

Batteries and electrical

  • Lead-acid batteries can release hydrogen gas while charging. Charge in a ventilated area, away from sparks and flames, and wear eye protection.
  • Set the charger to the battery’s chemistry (flooded, AGM, gel or lithium). Connect positive first, negative last.
  • Keep electric pressure washers and power tools on GFCI-protected outlets.

Official sources

For eye protection, see OSHA eye and face protection. For lift certification, see the Automotive Lift Institute. For consumer product recalls and carbon monoxide safety, see the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

No repair instructions

We review equipment. We do not publish vehicle-specific repair or maintenance procedures. Follow your vehicle’s service manual and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions, and use a qualified professional for work you are not trained to do.